Refuse compactor with selective spray device

ABSTRACT

A refuse compactor having means for holding refuse to be compacted and means for selectively providing access to the receptacle for placing trash therein. Means are provided for spraying a treating material onto the refuse in the receptacle and control means are provided for controlling operation of the spraying means to provide different modes of operation thereof. The control means includes a manually operable selector for selecting the desired mode of operation. The receptacle may define a movable drawer having cam means associated therewith for effecting operation of the spray device in one mode of operation.

United States Patent [191 McDonald et a1.

[ 1 Oct. 8, 1974 1 REFUSE COMPACTOR WITH SELECTIVE SPRAY DEVICE [75] Inventors: William Roy McDonald; Leslie Ray Templeman, both of Danville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich.

221 Filed: June 18, 1973 1211 Appl. No.: 371,280

[52] US. Cl 100/45, 100/73, 100/229 A,

222/180 [51] Int. Cl. B30b 15/00 [58] Field of Search 100/45, 71, 73, 229 A;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,989,214 6/1961 Manheimer 222/180 3,556,619 l/1971 Bottas et al 100/45 3,636,862 l/l972 Bottas et al 100/229 A p 3,786,744 l/l974 Miller et al. 100/229 A 3,793,942 2/1974 Martiniak 3,800,694 4/1974 Miller et a1. 100/45 Primary Examiner-Billy .l. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord 5 7 1 ABSTRACT 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures REFUSE COMPACTOR WITH SELECTIVE SPRAY DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to refuse holders, and in particular to refuse compactors having means for spraying a treating material onto refuse in a receptacle thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art In US. Letters Pat. No. 3,556,6l9 and 3,636,862 of M. J. Bottas et al., owned by the assignee hereof, refuse storage compactors are disclosed having spray devices associated therewith for spraying treating agent or material onto the refuse placed in areceptacle of the apparatus. As illustrated in said patents, the spray device may be actuated by a cam follower responsive to move ment of the receptacle drawer. The drawer is provided with suitable cam means for engaging the cam follower to effect the desired automatic dispensing of the spray material. The actuating means is arranged to effect the spraying operation upon a movement of the drawer to the retracted, or compacting, position so that refuse newlyplaced in the drawer will automatically be treated prior to the compacting operation.

The spray means may comprise means for delivering a preselected quantity of the treating material during each actuation thereof.

In US. Letters Pat. No. 2,989,214 of G. J. Manheimer, an automatic aerosol dispensing device is illustrated having associated therewith a lever operable to prevent automatic dispensing of the aerosol when desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved refuse storage apparatus having a device for spraying treatment material onto the refuse. A new and improved control is provided for selective operation of the spraying means.

More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision in a refuse compactor, having a receptacle for holding refuse to be compacted and means for selectively providing access to the receptacle for placing trash to be compacted therein, of means for treating the refuse in the receptable comprising means for spraying a treating material onto refuse in the receptacle and control means for controlling operation of the spraying means selectively (a) to automatically treat the refuse as an incident of providing access to the re ceptacle, (b) to treat the refuse at any time as a result of a manual actuation of the control means, and (c) to prevent treatment of the refuse irrespective of providing access to the receptacle.

The receptacle, or container, may comprise a drawer selectively movable into a retracted, refuse compacting position within a cabinet and to a disposed accessible, refuse loading position forwardly of the cabinet. The drawer may be provided with cam means for effecting the automatic operation of the spraying means by suitable control of a cam follower associated therewith.

The control means may include a manually operable selector mechanism which, illustratively, may be disposed at the front of the cabinet for facilitated manual control of the spraying means. The control mechanism may be biased to an arrangement wherein the spraying means is automatically operated. Releasable holding means may be provided for selectively releasably retaining the selector mechanism in an arrangement wherein the control means is disposed to prevent treatment of the refuse irrespective of providing access to the receptacle. The control means is arranged to operate the spraying means as a result of a manipulation of the control mechanism to provide spray of treatment material onto the refuse in the manual mode of operatron.

In the arrangement of the control mechanism for preventing operation of the spraying means, the cam follower is caused to be spaced from the cam means so as to prevent actuation of the spraying means at all times.

The invention broadly comprehends providing a closure means for the receptacle, or container, and effecting the desired automatic operation in response to movement of the closure means. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure means comprises a portion of the receptacle, and more specifically, defines a front panel of a drawer-type receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refuse compactor having a refuse spraying means embodying the inventron;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof with portions broken away and hidden portions shown in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section of the spray control means;

FIG. 4 is a reduced vertical section taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a refuse compactor generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a cabinet 11 defining a front opening 12. A receptacle, or container, 13 is provided in the form of a drawer carried on suitable guides 14 for selective disposition in a retracted refuse compacting arrangement within the cabinet 11, or a forward, refuse receiving accessible position. Drawer 13 may be provided with a front panel 15 having a handle 16 for facilitated movement of the drawer between the compacting and loading positions.

Refuse placed in the drawer in the loading position is compacted therein by a suitable compactor ram means 17 when the drawer is placed in the compacting position. An aerosol can spray device 18 is mounted within the cabinet above the opening 12 for spraying suitable treatment material onto the refuse placed in the drawer thereby to sanitize or deodorize the refuse which may be retained in the drawer for a number of days while building up a substantial amount of compacted material.

The present invention comprehends an improved means for controlling the release of the spray material from the aerosol can 18 providing a novel selective control. The control means generally designated 19 provides controlled operation of the spraying means for selectively automatically treating the refuse as an incident of providing access to the receptacle l3, treating the refuse at any time as a result of a manual actuation of the control means, or preventing treatment of the refuse irrespective of movement of the drawer 13. Thus, where normal refuse is deposited in the drawer, the normal automatic operation of the spray device 18 may be continued. Where it is desired to provide extra treatment of the refuse, the user may operate the control 19 to spray desired additional treating material onto the refuse at any time. Where the refuse comprises simply paper or the like not requiring any sanitizing or deodorizing action, the user may dispense with the spraying operation.

Control 19 includes a rotary mechanism 20 operable by a handle 21 through a connecting shaft 22 to longitudinally displace a link 23 connected to the actuator 24 mounted on a bracket 25 adjacent the nozzle 26 of the aerosol spray can device 18. Movement of the actuator 24 is controlled by a cam follower rod 27 carrying a cam follower 28 at the lower end thereof to be normally engaged by a pair of cams 29 mounted on the side wall 30 of drawer 13. In the automatic mode of operation, the follower 27 is disposed as shown in full lines in FIGS. 2 and 3 and, thus, cam follower 28 is disposed to be engaged by earns 29 as the drawer is moved to the retracted position within cabinet 11. Thus, two sprays of treating material are provided from aerosol can device 18 in the moving of the drawer to the closed position.

Rotary device 20 further includes a connector plate 31. Link 23 includes an upper connecting portion 32 which is passed through a suitable opening 33 in con-' nector plate 31 for effecting longitudinal movement of link 23 as a function of rotation of plate 31 about the longitudinal axis 34 of connecting shaft 22.

Generally diametrically oppositely of opening 33, plate 31 is provided with a lug 35. A coil spring 36 is connected between lug and a lug 37 on mounting bracket 38 mounted within cabinet 11 to bias plate 31 to a centered position, as shown in FIG. 5. With plate 31 in the centered biased position, cam follower rod 27 is disposed as shown in full lines in FIGS. 2 and 3 so as to dispose cam follower 28 in the path of movement of earns 29. By rotating knob 21 to effect a counterclockwise rotation of plate 31 to the position of FIG. 5, link 23 is moved longitudinally, or linearly downwardly, to pivot the cam follower rod 27 from the full line position of FIGS. 2 and 3 to the dotted line position of FIG. 2 wherein the cam follower 28 is spaced above the path of movement of cams 29 thereby disposing the control in an Off arrangement precluding operation of the spray device notwithstanding movement of the drawer between the loading and retracted positions.

Cooperating detent means 39 may be provided on plate 31 and a subjacent mounting bracket flange 40 for releasably holding the plate 31 in this Off disposition. Connecting shaft 22 includes a reduced diameter end portion 41 which is joumalled in bracket flange 40. Rotation of plate 31 is controlled by a spring washer 42 and backup washer 43 on shaft end 41 with spring washer 42 being retained yieldingly between washer 43 and bracket flange 40, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, spring washer 42 cooperates with detent means 39 for releasably holding the control mechanism 19 in the Off" position when desired.

As indicated above, control mechanism 19 further defines means for manually effecting operation of aerosol spray device 18 when desired. Thus, clockwise rotation of knob 21 to rotate plate 31 sufficiently to longitudinally raise link 23 to swing cam follower rod 27 to the dotted line position of FIG. 3 causes a corresponding pivotal movement of actuator 24 to actuate the aerosol spray device 18 and thereby manually effect a spray operation.

As shown in FIG. 3, cabinet 11 may further include an inclined wall portion 44 through which the upper end 45 of shaft 22 extends for carrying knob 21. The upper end of shaft 22 may be suitably journalled in an upper bracket flange 46, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, rotation of the shaft 22 about its longitudinal axis 34 is converted into a rectilinear movement of the link 23 suitable for controlling the disposition of cam follower 28 and actuation of the aerosol device actuator 24 as desired.

Thus, control mechanism 19 is normally biased to the automatic control disposition wherein cams 29 control the dispensing of the spray material. The user may selectively disable the mechanism by rotating the knob in a counterclockwise direction with the detent means 39 releasably retaining the mechanism in this Off arrangement.

Alternatively, the user may at any time effect the dispensing of the spray material by rotating the knob 21 in a clockwise direction.

The automatic operation of the spray device is effected by a movement of the closure panel 15 to provide access to the container, or drawer, 13 as for placing additional refuse therein. Movement of the closure panel 15, and drawer 13, to the position wherein the panel closes the front portion of the cabinet normally automatically effects the desired spraying operation.

As shown in FIG. 4, link 23 is connected to the upper end of cam follower rod 27. A cross piece 47 continues from the upper end of cam follower rod 27 and is rotatably journalled in a bracket 48 secured to the cabinet 11. The actuator 24 is secured to the distal end of cross piece 47 by suitable means such as set screw 49. Thus, aerosol spray device 18 may be disposed centrally of the drawer 13 with the cam follower rod 27 extending along one side of the drawer and with the cams 29 being mounted on the outer surface thereof. The operation of the metered dispensing means of the aerosol can device such as device 18 is illustrated in greater detail in the above-discussed Bottas et al. US. Pat. No. 3,636,862 and the disclosures of each of the Bottas et al. US. Pat. Nos. 3,556,619 and 3,636,862 are incorporated by reference herein.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a refuse compactor having a receptacle for holding refuse to be compacted, and means for selectively providing access to the receptacle for placing trash to be compacted therein, means for treating the refuse in the receptacle comprising:

means for spraying a treating material onto refuse in the receptacle; and

control means for controlling operation of said spraying means selectively a. to automatically treat the refuse as an incident of providing access to the receptacle,

b. to treat the refuse at any time as a result of a manual actuation of the control means, and

c. to prevent treatment of the refuse irrespective of providing access to the receptacle.

2. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 including means for selectively disposing the receptacle in a retracted compacting disposition and an exposed accessible disposition, and said control means is arranged to cause operation of the spraying means to automatically treat the refuse as an incident of movement of the receptacle from said accessible disposition to said retracted disposition.

3. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a manually operable selector mechanism having biasing means for urging the control means to the arrangement wherein the spraying means is automatically operated.

4. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a manually operable selector mechanism having biasing means for urging the control means to the arrangement wherein the spraying means is automatically operated and releasable holding means for selectively releasably retaining the selector mechanism in an arrangement wherein the control means is disposed to prevent treatment of the refuse irrespective of providing access to the receptacle.

5. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a manually operable selector mechanism and means responsive to a manipulation of the selector mechanism to a preselected 6 manual operation position to operate said spraying means to treat the refuse.

6. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 including means for selectively disposing the receptacle in a retracted compacting disposition and an exposed accessible disposition, and said control means is arranged to cause operation of the spraying means to automatically treat the refuse as an incident of movement of the receptacle between said dispositions, said control means including cam means on said receptacle, cam follower means responsive to said cam means to operate the spraying means, and a manually operable selector mechanism for selectively a. permitting control of the cam. follower by said cam means to automatically treat the refuse as an incident of providing access to the receptacle,

b. manually disposing the cam follower to operate the spraying means to treat the refuse at any time, and

c. positioning the cam follower to preclude engagement with the cam means to prevent treatment of the refuse irrespective of providing access to the receptacle.

7. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a manually operable selector mechanism having a linearly movable actuator associated with the spraying means for actuating the same, a rotary selector, and means for converting rotation of the rotary selector to a linear movement suitable to operate the spraying means actuator. 

1. In a refuse compactor having a receptacle for holding refuse to be compacted, and means for selectively providing access to the receptacle for placing trash to be compacted therein, means for treating the refuse in the receptacle comprising: means for spraying a treating material onto refuse in the receptacle; and control means for controlling operation of said spraying means selectively a. to automatically treat the refuse as an incident of providing access to the receptacle, b. to treat the refuse at any time as a result of a manual actuation of the control means, and c. to prevent treatment of the refuse irrespective of providing access to the receptacle.
 2. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 including means for selectively disposing the receptacle in a retracted compacting disposition and an exposed accessible disposition, and said control means is arranged to cause operation of the spraying means to automatically treat the refuse as an incident of movement of the receptacle from said accessible disposition to said retracted disposition.
 3. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a manually operable selector mechanism having biasing means for urging the control means to the arrangement wherein the spraying means is automatically operated.
 4. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a manually operable selector mechanism having biasing means for urging the control means to the arrangement wherein the spraying means is automatically operated and releasable holding means for selectively releasably retaining the selector mechanism in an arrangement wherein the control means is disposed to prevent treatment of the refuse irrespective of providing access to the receptacle.
 5. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a manually operable selector mechanism and means responsive to a manipulation of the selector mecHanism to a preselected manual operation position to operate said spraying means to treat the refuse.
 6. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 including means for selectively disposing the receptacle in a retracted compacting disposition and an exposed accessible disposition, and said control means is arranged to cause operation of the spraying means to automatically treat the refuse as an incident of movement of the receptacle between said dispositions, said control means including cam means on said receptacle, cam follower means responsive to said cam means to operate the spraying means, and a manually operable selector mechanism for selectively a. permitting control of the cam follower by said cam means to automatically treat the refuse as an incident of providing access to the receptacle, b. manually disposing the cam follower to operate the spraying means to treat the refuse at any time, and c. positioning the cam follower to preclude engagement with the cam means to prevent treatment of the refuse irrespective of providing access to the receptacle.
 7. The refuse compactor treating means of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a manually operable selector mechanism having a linearly movable actuator associated with the spraying means for actuating the same, a rotary selector, and means for converting rotation of the rotary selector to a linear movement suitable to operate the spraying means actuator. 